Book Review- The Slow Fade

Coauthored by Reggie Joiner, Chuck Bomar and Abbie Smith, The Slow Fade encourages the formation of intergenerational relationships. Rather than allowing college students and young adults to simply "fade away", much emphasis is placed on connecting with college students as well as including them into the life of the local church, even if the student is only in that church for a brief period of time. The book asks "What if we have drawn the wrong finish line?" in regard to asking churches and leaders to view the college years as critical years of spiritual formation. Though college students are adults, in many cases, churches release these students to find their own way after high school graduation.

The concept of intergenerational relationships is not only practical and reasonable, but mentoring is biblical (II Timothy 2; Titus 2).

Here are some highlights from The Slow Fade:

We are disconnecting from teenagers at graduation, when the stakes are the highest. We are not tapping into our relational influence, when the felt need is the greatest (pg. 32).

When I meet twenty-somethings, I can't help thinking, "Who is the adult in your world who really cares about you, who is willing to connect with you in a healthy way"? (pg. 34)

God loves people we don't have patience for, and He sees those we don't even know exist. God cares about things we intentionally ignore (pg. 52).

If every adult got passionate about investing in one person, the world would be changed (pg. 55).

Connecting them to a community of faith means teaching them they can never outrun the reach of grace (pg. 93).

Also, don't miss Appendix C "Shifting Perspectives" (pgs. 129-137).